What Does Your Keen Eye See?: Sam Forecasts The Future
by SamFels on Sep 29, 2009 4:29 PM CDT
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Make It So, Captain
The title of this entry is pretty funny. After all, if I could predict the future I'd do a hell of a lot better at the track, and wouldn't be wagering on Jake Delhomme to cover. Anyway, over the next three days each of us will forecast how we see this season going (Killion and McClure have just been informed they'll be doing so) and I'll kick things off. Do I think we'll see the pictured action in June?....
It's so hard to say what will happen in the NHL, where injuries are a common occurrence, and then dips in form from certain players and others coming out of nowhere. But I'll do my best.
Hawks Point Total And Finish - 108 pts., 1st in The Central, 2nd in The Western Conference
Obviously, without significant injury, I expect the natural growth of the Hawks skaters to lead to a slight improvement this regular season. As far as first in the division, as I pointed out in The Indian, with the Olympics this February, Scum's core will be playing in 100+ games from the fifth straight season, and I really wonder if they can hold up. Datsyuk was injured last season during the playoffs, as was Lindstrom, and you wonder if it all won't start to take the toll. It'll go right down to the wire, but I think the Hawks nip the division.
As far as the conference, well, the Sharks are good at the regular season, and they'll have to actually play well to win the division this season unlike last, as the Ducks will keep their attention all year.
Hawks Leading Scorer - Patrick Kane, 31G 55A 86P
I was heavily tempted to put Toews here, as I think he'll break 40 goals this year and if Sharp or Hossa is on his wing the whole season his assists will go up. But Kaner, who everyone says has bulked up, will take all the crap from the offseason, all the taunts he'll hear, all the jokes he'll be the butt of, and do his talking on the ice. We'll finally see him shoot more, and he'll be dishing to Hossa -- one of the best finishers in the league -- at least on the PP. Kane's point totals jump.
Hawks Leading Goal-Scorer - Jonathan Toews - 42
Without that 12-game drought to start the season, Toews may have gotten here anyway last season. Now that he's accustomed to the captaincy, I doubt we'll see nearly the number of performances where Captain Marvel tried to do everything from board work, scoring, and escorting people out of the 300 Level at the same time. With a hopped up 20-Cent on his right, Marvel gets past 40.
Huet's stats: 55 games, .915 SV%, 2.39 GAA
I expect the Hawks to aim for 60 starts, but I expect one niggling injury that knocks him out for a week. These are right in line with his career stats, and though while not spectacular, are way more than decent, and we'll get the Hawks where they need to go.
Breakout Player: Troy Brouwer
When you think about it, there isn't a huge list to choose from. We saw most of this roster last year and know what they're capable of. But I'm going with Brouwer here. Whatever he is, Brouwer knows the game. He's almost always in the right spot, and with Hossa gone for two months may even get time as the big body on one of the top-2 lines. Now that he knows he can play in this league, as well as some improved skating, I expect a more relaxed Troy Brouwer to bang home a lot of the chances be blew last season and demonstrate the scoring touch he showed in the AHL. But Brouwer doesn't have to have a big season numbers-wise to break out. If he forms a punishing checkling line with Ladd and Madden, and snuffs out opponents' scorers like Spartans snuffing out Persians at The Hot Gates, he'll still help the Hawks be awfully formidable.
Western Conference Standings:
1. San Jose
2. Hawks
3. Vancouver
4. Scum
5. Anaheim (this'll be a hilarious first round match-up)
6. Calgary
7. St. Louis (this'll be a nightmare of a first round match-up)
8. L.A.
Eastern Conference Standings:
1. Boston
2. Washington
3. Philly
4. Pittsburgh
5. Carolina
6. New Jersey
7. Montreal
8. Florida
The Postseason: In the East, I'd love to sit here and say I trust a 35-year old Tim Thomas to navigate an NHL season, possibly US Olympic starter for the US in Vancouver, and then the playoffs. But I can't do that. Without a superlative performance from Thomas, I don't know the Bruins have quite enough scoring. The Caps have bigger goalie questions, and have folded in Game 7's at home two years in a row, and their blue-line makes me urpy defensively. I just don't believe Pittsburgh can go to three straight Finals, although I base that on nothing. Which leads me to the Flyers. Yes, Emery is a nutbar, but he's a talented one, and has already got a team to the Finals. Maybe putting on the Orange and Black just makes goalies bad, but maybe Emery is just crazy enough to probably not care. The Flyers are loaded at forward -- as much as the Hawks are -- and the pick up of Pronger makes an already underrated blue line corps even better. The Ill-a-delph will be rocking.
In the West, well, I'll be honest....I think the Hawks win it. I really do. Despite the Everest-amount of bullshit that went on this summer, what I can't ignore is this is the best Hawks team of my lifetime. They can score from everywhere, they have a leader who won't let them give anything less than vomit-level effort, they have a defense that can shut you down when necessary. Assuming no more major injuries, I think we're making our first Finals appearance in 17 years. San Jose has spit the bit under two different coaches now, I think whatever's rotting them from the inside is too ingrained. I've already mentioned my concerns on Scum, and Anaheim's blue-line past Niedermayer has concerns, though that team scares the absolute fuck out of me.
Finals: Hawks-Flyers
I'm sorry, I won't come out and say how I think this turns out. I just can't. I'm not physically able to type the words.
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I like these picks
2.39 GAA? Awfully precise there. Did you use a calculator, or is this just for the sake of versimilitude?
Head-to-head, the Hawks can handle anyone in the West (except maybe Scum.) So , if someone takes out Scum, the Hawks should be clear to the finals.
It seems several Eastern teams match up better against the Hawks (Pittspurgh, Washington, Boston. Hell, the Rangers) but I don’t put Philly in that group. Still, I’m not so optimisitc we make it to the top of the mountain this year. Depends on the draw.
Huet will not be in net come playoff time
is my prediction.
Lets Go Hawks!
Agreed
I look for the Blackhawks to engineer a substantial mid-season deal to acquire a primetime netminder, with Patrick Sharp and / or Kris Versteeg the bait.
"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)
Interesting. Hadn't even thought of that.
Certainly not out of the realm of possibilities.
Got more soul than a sock with a hole.
The only spot I disagree
I see Calgary being higher than 6. Possibly 3. Yeah losing cam will hurt, but gaining jay will more than make up for it.
Looking Forward to the Pain
For the last 15 years, I have a blood oath that when we win the cup me and about 4 buds will have the Indian head tatoo’d on our left arm. I think this is the year it finally happens. My wife has been laughing at me since the offseason. She has a shamrock on her left shoulder and has more a pain threshold than I. I’m a little nervous, but can’t wait just the same…
Evil will always triumph against good, because good is dumb.
Don't worry about it...
Tattoos don’t hurt all that bad.. especially if they’re not all that close to being directly on a bone. It’s uncomfortable but nothing shocking…
This.
They hurt, not gonna lie, but it isn’t all that bad if you avoid bone or an area with sensitive skin like the underside of your upper arm.
My bet with some old buddies if the win it all was to strip nekkid and dance in Buckingham Fountain. Even though I am no longer in contact with any of those hosers from college way back when I’d still do it.
by runningquicklynowhere on Sep 29, 2009 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah no bone or tender skin
but it lasts your whole life.Getting ink when hammered is funny, but when you plan out what you want an hour or two of pain is part of the process.
Praise Him!!
by Hawk is God on Sep 29, 2009 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions
make sure it's something you can live with
Coming from a family where tattoos are accepted if not encouraged (currently have 1 full sleeve).
Oh yeah they hurt, but depending on your pain tolerance it just becomes a numbing sensation about 15 minutes in. It also depends on your tattooist. If they have a heavy hand it hurts like hell, if they are experienced it will feel like a sunburn. Most tattoo shops give you breaks during the session to allow for your nervous system to recover before the next portion. I do not recommend sitting there 6 hours w/o a break (been there done that).
The underside of the wrist is probably the strangest area to be inked, no matter your self control your fingers will spasm out because the nerves are being hit.
Just my two cents, and they tend to become addictive (2K+ in ink according to Jade Dragon Prices)
It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Albert Einstein
Also...
My time of death has been tagged as "alcohol poisioning’ at age 89 (which is in 50 years) and that is a croc of shit. It will never take that long. LOL
Evil will always triumph against good, because good is dumb.
Nice post.
Very logical and I’ve printed it and taped it to the backside of April in my 2010 calendar for future reference.
"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"
Speaking of forecasts
PuckProspectus has been releasing their VUKOTA team predictions all month which they are now set to release their #1 pick likely tomorrow…and the Hawks haven’t been mentioned yet.
and in ex-Hawk news Robert Bobby Lang has signed with the Coyotes (terms undisclosed).
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=293085
Poor Robert
Off to the desert to take part in the hilarious world that is the Phoenix/Hamilton/Las Vegas Coyotes.
by AirTrafficAJ on Sep 29, 2009 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Good post
However, my head says the Hawks will finish around # 4 or # 5 in the Western Conference playoff chase. Which is fine, because it is all about making the playoffs first and foremost.
"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)
I predict
That it is going to take awhile for the Hawks to get going. They have an enormous amount of talent, but I’m not convinced yet that they know what to do with all of it. Since I believe the Hawks will be a “bullseye” team that everyone wants a piece of this year, it makes sense to me that we wind up finishing lower down the totem pole and possibly behind the scum. Still, though it may take half the season to sort it out, I predict they will sort it out and do very well in the playoffs.
I also predict that the bitching here about Huet will be incessant and quite often very misguided. The fantasy talk of various trades we should do to replace him will reach truly bizarre proportions and at some point, some idiot will recommend trading Toews as long as we can get some team to take both Huet and Phantom off our hands. I don’t see us “riding” Huet to a cup, but I don’t think this means we can’t win.
UMMMM....
You did see that we have been officially screwwed now, didn’t you? That’s right, the “Melrose Curse” is ours and Philly’s as well. The “Evil Empire’s” personal hockey gasbag Barry Melrose (how he has a job as an analyst after last season in Tampa and keeping Gretzky from a cup in LA I do not know…). In all of his wonderful years as a hockey prognosticator on ESPN I have never witnessed him to do anything but pick the wrong team. That this was his pick for the cup final actually scares me saddens me more than I thought was possible. Mercifully I couldn’t hear him because the Barkeeps at Toons were smart enough to keep the sound off, so I do not know who is royally bent over because I never heard who he picked to win it. That weirdo with the spray tan and bad haircut will usually pass the curse around 40-45 times a season, so we may be safe. He usually changes predictions 2-3 times per playoff series, and kills the momentum for whoever he picks as well. I still do not like that he picked us. Then Sam had to go add to it too. Nice one. Maybe you are the cure to the “Melrose Curse”. That said, I’m still hoping he said Philly will win the cup. Just keep him away from my TV.
Prognostications a plenty...
So since this is a post about who can play Nostradamus to their greatest ability I figured why not try my hand at it, so here are my predictions:
Western Conference:
1) Chicago- solid defence to go along with a viper strike offence. Huet?
2) Anaheim- great goaltending with are led offensively by the Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan line.
3) Minnesota- Havlat and Sykora will bolster the offence which will help Backstrom.
4) Detroit- still the model franchise but key losses in the off-season will hurt.
5) St. Louis- look for the Blues to take a big step with very impressive young team.
6) Dallas- the returns of Richards and Morrow should get the Stars back to 2008 form.
7) San Jose- Great 1st line, but after that? Greiss? Leadership by commitee?
8) Vancouver- Great start will help, but can we trust Luongo to stay healthy? Raycroft?
Missing out:
9) LA- much like the Hawks of 2008, the young studs in LA will barely miss.
10) Calgary- Who going to score? Too much D, not enough O. Very 2009 Wild like.
11) Pheonix- Tippett will help the Yotes get back to the form of the 1st half of 2008-09.
12) Columbus- Even Roy and Belfour suffered bad 2nd years, so will Mason.
13) Edmonton- Khabby will get hurt, and with that D their back-ups will get exposed.
14) Nashville- One of these years Trotz will run out of magic, this is the year.
15) Colorado- If Statsny and Wolski can stay healthy this team may suprise.
And why not? let’s try my hand at the other conference
Eastern Conference
1) Washington- Ovechkin and co. should keep this team a the top, but Theodore?
2) Pittsburgh- the Champs are here, but slow start will keep them out of the top spot.
3) Boston- Look for Lucic to have a career year with Savard, and Chara will be Chara.
4) Philadelphia- Offensively gifted with a tremendous D. Emery is questionable.
5) Carolina- look for $6.3 mil. dollar man Ward to backstop this team to 39+ wins again
6) NJ- Broduer and Parise will guide this team, but Lemaire and the trap?
7) Ottawa- Look for the Sens to bouce back after 2 lackluster seasons. LeClaire helps.
8) Buffalo- Miller will benefit from the Olympic break making the Sabres a contender.
Missing out:
9) Florida- just missing out on the party, still good team with Horton, Weiss, and Booth.
10) NYRangers- Gaborik`s injuries keep this team on the outside looking in.
11) Tampa Bay- Additions will help but how much? Goaltending still a problem.
12) Montreal- The Price is still wrong and the makeover won’t work. Bon Soir Gainey?
13) Atlanta- Kovalchuk departure at dealine, sends Thrash into tailpsin. Lehtonen?
14) Toronto- truculence will only lead to more PP against and with Toskala in goal…?
15) NYIslanders- after Tavares and Streit what else? Biron and Roloson gone by March?
So there you have it and I’m sure there will be a bit of discussion of who I’ve picked where and how, but who really knows what’s going to happen? But there are some teams getting too much Stanley Cup contender talk that most likely won’t make the playoffs.
It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!
I like the prediction. Still nervous about doomsday though.
jt
by HolyBlackhawksBatman on Sep 30, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions
They’re likely on one-way deals, and this is the path they have to take to demote them to Rockford. No need to panic.
www.secondcityhockey.com
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.
ugh
SOPEL in our regular rotation?!? seriously? this could be brutal…
"...can i have a glass of whiskey and a slice of bread?"
by west_fulton on Sep 30, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
...and for reference
…here is the most recent Tweet from the Official Home of The Chicago Blackhawks Twitter:
“Man, Helsinki is gorgeous. Just shot some pics in a park with Antti Niemi. Look for one in the Tribune tomorrow.”
by WirtzGMnomore on Sep 30, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
does anyone here actually believe that?
i havent heard a good thing about sopel in a very long time. . . if ever. after watching him this preseason i dont understand this move.
balls.
"...can i have a glass of whiskey and a slice of bread?"
yes
seeing them on 10/17 @ the aragon (ugh) w/ mastodon, dethklok & high on fire. going to be a weirddd night for sure.
also lookin forward to the new glassjaw album. i think its done?
"...can i have a glass of whiskey and a slice of bread?"
On waivers today: Chicago’s Corey Crawford and Aaron Johnson, plus Minnesota’s Andy Hilbert. Pittsburgh claimed Chris Bourque.
Kevin Allen USA Today
http://twitter.com/kausatoday
and for reference
…here is the most recent Tweet from the Official Home of The Chicago Blackhawks Twitter:
"Man, Helsinki is gorgeous. Just shot some pics in a park with Antti Niemi. Look for one in the Tribune tomorrow."
(sorry, i posted it in the wrong place)
by WirtzGMnomore on Sep 30, 2009 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
All These High Early Season Rankings and Predictions Scare Me
I just can’t shake the feeling that this team is going to hugely dissappoint a lot of people. Maybe it’s just latent pessimism from past Hawk failures but I just have a bad feeling about this year. Too much pressure, too many expectations. Hopefully I’m wrong.
Crawford on wavers
Ugh this pisses me off. I think Crawford is way more ready for prime time than niemi.
Don’t really care about AJ
by Battery on Sep 30, 2009 5:07 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
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